Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the career expectations, specialty preferences, and attitudes toward the department of physiology among medical students. Methods: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted among 262 medical students at İzmir Bakırçay University Faculty of Medicine in the spring term of 2025. Data were collected using a questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, motivations for choosing medical school, career plans, and perceptions regarding physiology. Data were analyzed using SPSS; descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were applied. A p-value

Background: This study aimed to provide a comprehensive and analytically structured evaluation of postgraduate theses (master’s and doctoral) in the field of physiology conducted at state and foundation universities in Türkiye between 2020 and 2024. The distribution of theses was examined according to thesis type, academic titles of advisors, university type, gender of graduates, and geographic location. In addition, potential changes in postgraduate thesis patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic period were assessed.Methods: Data were obtained from the National Thesis Center database using a structured screening approach. Comparative statistical analyses were performed to examine associations between categorical variables, including thesis type, advisor academic title, gender, year of completion, and university type. Temporal and geographic distributions were also analyzed.Results: A total of 495 postgraduate physiology theses were included in the analysis. State universities accounted for the majority of theses and demonstrated consistently higher output across all years. A statistically significant association was observed between thesis type and advisor academic title, with doctoral theses being predominantly supervised by professors (p < 0.001). Female graduates were significantly more represented than male graduates in both master’s and doctoral programs, and the proportion of female graduates increased significantly over time (p < 0.05). While numerical fluctuations were observed across years, the relative distribution of master’s and doctoral theses remained stable during the study period, indicating structural resilience despite external disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Geographic analysis revealed a pronounced concentration of theses in metropolitan and academically established provinces.Conclusions: Postgraduate physiology education in Türkiye exhibits a structurally stable yet geographically centralized pattern, with strong reliance on state universities and senior academic supervision. Strengthening research infrastructure and postgraduate program capacity in small- and medium-sized cities may help reduce regional disparities. Furthermore, the increasing participation of women in postgraduate physiology education represents a substantial academic potential that should be supported through targeted policies aimed at fostering academic and professional career development.